2005 Fishing Report

OUR MUSKY CHART was interesting this year – while it seemed like fewer fish, with a sample of only 44 musky (34” or more only out of Teal lake), it is only 6 less than last year, but average for the last ten years. However, the number of legal sized fish matters less when you look at the other statistics. In July someone stated they were seeing fewer fish, but the ones they were seeing were bigger – they were right!. Studying the 2005 legal fish recorded, the average was a wonderful 37.8”. While this is a less than half an inch shorter than last year, it is once again bigger than the rest of the decade. The number of fish over 40” is also up, second highest in the decade.

So, why was 2004 better fishing? The only guess is that the 2004 weather was worse, a lot worse - the coldest and wettest in a long time. 2005, in contrast, was wonderful – drier and warmer than we can remember. In fact, down right hot! And still the fishing held up reasonably – so we are delighted.

TWO BIG AND IMPORTANT FISHING THINGS COMING UP IN 2006:FIRSTLY, YOUR INPUT IS INVITED: The DNR now asks for input from those interested in certain lakes because they want to manage different lakes for different usages. Some of our local lakes have already had their input; the public went for walleye on Nelson lake and even the Chippewa Flowage!Our turn for the Quiet Lakes (Teal and Lost Land) is next June is: Saturday, June 6 at the Town Hall up here. If you feel strongly, we (and they) would love visitor/tourist input. We will be going, of course. If you can’t be here, at least deliver written input on Teal lake so your voice is heard.

There is a school of thought that we should request “slot” keep/release: keeping the smaller (thus removing the genetically smaller fish) and the larger (fully mature), but releasing the middle size which have the potential to grow larger. I have also heard the opposite: release the largest and smallest, but keep a slot in the middle (30-40”). What do you know about this plan in other fisheries? The home owners in this area now outnumber resorters and visitors these days, and my best guess, is the homeowners will vote to manage Teal for walleye! SECONDLY, “LEGAL” SIZE GOES TO 40” next year:We have now reached the point on the release program that 100% of muskies reported were released. So, the change will make no difference to the sex life of the musky, but will make a big difference to those who are excited about the challenge of musky fishing. Two possible speculations about 100% release: either nobody kept any, or anybody keeping one was too socially embarrassed to report it! We feel this is a bit of a shame: musky is not endangered, and it is a wonderful fish to eat(ask us for great-grandma’s terrific recipe, or have our kitchen fix it for you.)

However, with 40” considered “legal”, for both reporting and for keeping, we will loose track of growth patterns. We plan to keep our musky chart in two categories: those over 30”, (all released of course), and those over 40” which you have the option to keep. So: keep that in mind when you measure and then release your smaller muskies: we are interested and would like to keep a full count.OOPS: ONE MORE….THIRDLY, HOW TO RELEASE A MUSKY:While this seems fairly obvious, new statistics are becoming known about the percentages of those released fish that seem to swim away with vigor, but are actually not surviving in the long term. This figure is at least 60%, and some studies show it to be much higher. The new studies show that many handling aspects can cause damage: the angle at which the fish is held (usually for the photograph) can be damaging, the speed with which the fish is brought through a temperature change, as well as the old theories of wet hands, length of time out of water, nature of the bait, etc.

This saddens us as we have an intrinsic interest in the release program: it was Nelson Ross, Tim’s father, who first suggested that musky be released to swim again and grow, and implemented the first release program here on Teal Lake. The release percentage increased each year, and by 1990 we were recording around 98% released. We have become more interested recently as our son, Ben, is now involved with this. Presently at Scripps, in San Diego, in ocean fishery applications, he has also done relevant research on cod fisheries off the Maine coasts, and spent time talking to our local musky gurus when he comes through home. Ask us – we will tell you what we have heard most recently.